In Memoriam : Edward Haskell

Visitation Information:Condolences may be posted to www.dcpate.com or mailed to:
The Inn at Atlantic Heights, 100 Harbor Drive, Saco, ME 04072
Dennett, Craig & Pate Saco Maine are in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial gifts may be made in Ted’s name to Vermont Academy PO Box 500 Saxtons River, VT 05154
Private family burial will be at a later date at Swampscot Cemetery.

Obituary:Edward “Ted” Robert Haskell, 84, passed away at Southern Maine Medical Center with his family at his side on Sunday, September 9th, 2012.
He was born on February 18, 1928 to Robert R. and Marjorie French Haskell who instilled the value of a loving network of family and friends which became one of Ted’s most memorable legacies. Through his early years, he and his sister Martha lived with their family in Swampscott, Massachusetts. He was an avid sportsman competing in most sports through his teenage years, while lobstering in the summers and then attended and graduated from Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont. Ted was accepted at Dartmouth College and then deferred, enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1947. After proudly serving in the Marine Corps, he attended Dartmouth, played on the hockey team, was a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brother, and received a business management degree in the Class of 1952. In 1956, he married his beloved “Tiger”, the former Sally Patton Foss of Marblehead, Massachusetts where they lived for the next 43 years before retiring to Dataw Island, South Carolina. Ted and Sally had a remarkable 56 year marriage together that included so very many wonderful true friends, travels, and family memories. Ted was an avid picture taker and he spent a great deal of time putting together gifts of albums honoring many events over the years. His family and friends are all truly blessed for his diligence and the care he took to remember the special events of our lives together.
Ted worked with his dad to create the Robert Haskell Company and office products organization originating in Beverly, Massachusetts in 1953. Following the early passing of his dad and the advent of computer technology, the company evolved into Systems Automation, Inc. SAI became one of the prominent Boston area office automation and computer networking companies with its offices located in Wakefield, MA. Ted created the company with his two business partners, Sears “Nick“ Winslow of Manchester by the Sea, MA, and Robert “Bob” Harding of Gilford, NH Ted will be forever indebted to Nick, Bob, and all of his long-term employees - Jerry Lajoie, Shirley Vassey, Bob Macintosh, and all others that remember working with Ted. Through the company’s growth and Ted’s entrepreneurial spirit, Systems Automation was known as one of the nation’s top office automation dealerships. Ted’s son, Bob Haskell, joined him in 1985 to build the sales team, and 13 years later Ted and Bob successfully sold the family business. After 46 years in business, Ted and Sally then moved to Dataw Island, South Carolina where they loved their retirement home and the 13 years spent there together.
Ted was a member of the Salem Five Cent Savings Bank Board of Trustees for over 20 years,
National Association of Accountants, the Salem Massachusetts Rotary Club
Dartmouth College( Class of 1952 )and North Shore Alumni President, Vermont Academy( Class of 1946) Swampscott Beach Club and The Corinthian Yacht Club of Marblehead, Mass.
He is survived by his wife, Sally, daughter, Elizabeth (Lee) Haskell Gaudette of Turner, Maine, her husband Rene and children Andrew & Abbie, son, Robert Randall Haskell II of Holderness, New Hampshire, his wife Annie and children Ryanne and Mardene, son, Christopher Foss Haskell of Beaufort, South Carolina and his companion, Monica Pennington, and sister, Martha Haskell Baird & family of Dover, MA.

Lee, Rene, Andrew and Abbie, How sad Dana and I are that this day has come to such a dear, funny, personable man. I am sure that there was comfort that he and Sally were there in Maine with you near. Give Sally a hug from us - the flag is again at half staff at Tedesco, a place Ted loved. Know that we are all thinking of you and sending thoughts and memories - Lee, you were and are THE BEST daughter he could have asked for - Love you guys, Merry and Dana Tufts

Dear Haskell Family,
Please accept our heartfelt condolences. Ted was always a great guy around Marblehead, as kids at the beach club, the Horribles Parades, or more recently as adults at Tedesco. He will be missed by many. Remember the good times.
All the best - The Boals

Just read this sad news in the Marblehead paper. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Haskell family. Ted was such a wonderful ambassador when Bill and I moved into the neighborhood. Over the years, we have often talked about his (and Sally's) kindness.